Two terminal low capacitance multi-channel ESD device

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to a previously filed application entitled “MULTI-CHANNEL ESD DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR” having an application Ser. No. 11/859,624, having a common assignee, a common inventor, and inventors Salih et al. which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to electronics, and more particularly, to methods of forming semiconductor devices and structures.

In the past, the semiconductor industry utilized various methods and structures to form electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices. According to one international specification, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification commonly referred to as IEC 61000-4-2 (level 2), it is desirable for an ESD device to respond to a high input voltage and current within approximately 1 nanosecond (the IEC has an address at 3, rue de Varembé, 1211 Genève 20, Switzerland).

Some of the prior ESD devices used a zener diode and a P-N junction diode to attempt to provide ESD protection. In general, the prior ESD devices had to trade-off low capacitance against having a sharp breakdown voltage characteristic. The sharp breakdown voltage characteristic was needed to provide a low clamp voltage for the ESD device. In most cases, the device structures had a high capacitance, generally greater than about one to six (1-6) picofarads. The high capacitance limited the response time of the ESD device. Some prior ESD devices operated in a punch-through mode which required the devices to have a very thin and accurately controlled epitaxial layer, generally less than about 2 microns thick, and required a low doping in the epitaxial layer. These structures generally made it difficult to accurately control the clamping voltage of the ESD device and especially difficult to control low clamping voltages, such as voltages of less than about ten volts (10 V). One example of such an ESD device was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,511 which issued on Mar. 9, 1999 to Bin Yu et al. Another ESD device utilized a body region of a vertical MOS transistor to form a zener diode at an interface with an underlying epitaxial layer. The doping profiles and depths used for the ESD device resulted in a high capacitance and a slow response time. Additionally, it was difficult to control the light doping levels in the thin layers which made it difficult to control the breakdown voltage of the ESD device. An example of such an ESD device was disclosed in United States patent publication number 2007/0073807 of inventor Madhur Bobde which was published on Mar. 29, 2007.

It is often desirable to form the ESD devices with two terminals so that the ESD device may be assembled into a two terminal semiconductor package.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device that has two terminals, that has a low capacitance, that has a fast response time, that reacts to both a positive and a negative ESD event, that has a well controlled clamp voltage, that is easy to control in manufacturing, and that has a clamp voltage that can be controlled over a range of voltages from a low voltage to a high voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a circuit representation of an electro-static discharge (ESD) protection device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional portion of an embodiment of the ESD device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 illustrates various sequential stages of some of the steps in a preferred method of forming the ESD device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of an embodiment of the ESD device of FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the V-I characteristics of the ESD device of FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating some of the carrier concentrations of the ESD device of FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the V-I characteristics of an alternate embodiment of the ESD device of FIG. 1-FIG. 8 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a circuit representation of still another electro-static discharge (ESD) protection device that is an alternate embodiment of the ESD device of FIG. 1-FIG. 8 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the V-I characteristics of the ESD device of FIG. 10 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a circuit representation of another electro-static discharge (ESD) protection device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional portion of an embodiment of the ESD device of FIG. 12 in accordance with the present invention.

For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. As used herein current carrying electrode means an element of a device that carries current through the device such as a source or a drain of an MOS transistor or an emitter or a collector of a bipolar transistor or a cathode or anode of a diode, and a control electrode means an element of the device that controls current through the device such as a gate of an MOS transistor or a base of a bipolar transistor. Although the devices are explained herein as certain N-channel or P-Channel devices, or certain N-type of P-type doped regions, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that complementary devices are also possible in accordance with the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the words during, while, and when as used herein are not exact terms that mean an action takes place instantly upon an initiating action but that there may be some small but reasonable delay, such as a propagation delay, between the reaction that is initiated by the initial action. The use of the word approximately or substantially means that a value of element has a parameter that is expected to be very close to a stated value or position. However, as is well known in the art there are always minor variances that prevent the values or positions from being exactly as stated. It is well established in the art that variances of up to about ten per cent (10%) (and up to twenty percent (20%) for semiconductor doping concentrations) are regarded as reasonable variances from the ideal goal of exactly as described. For clarity of the drawings, doped regions of device structures are illustrated as having generally straight line edges and precise angular corners. However, those skilled in the art understand that due to the diffusion and activation of dopants the edges of doped regions generally may not be straight lines and the corners may not be precise angles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device or ESD device 10 that has a low capacitance, a fast response time, and that easily can be assembled as a two terminal device within a two terminal semiconductor package. Device 10 includes two terminals, a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12, and is configured to provide bidirectional ESD protection between terminals 11 and 12. Either of terminals 11 and 12 can be an input terminal or an output terminal. The output terminal usually is connected to another element (not shown) that is to be protected by device 10. For example, terminals 11 and 12 may be connected between two wires that form a communication line or data transmission line between two pieces of electronic equipment, or terminal 12 may be used as the output terminal and connected to the high side of a regulated power supply (such as a 5V supply) with terminal 11 connected to the low side of the power supply. Terminals 11 and 12 are readily connected to two terminals of a two terminal semiconductor package such as an SOD323 or an SOD923 package. Assembling device 10 into a two terminal semiconductor package facilitates using device 10 to replace prior two terminal ESD devices. Additionally, the configuration of device 10 allows device 10 to be assembled into the semiconductor package without regard to which of terminals 11 or 12 is connected to which terminal of the package. This advantageously eliminates assembly mistakes of reversed connections thereby reducing assembly costs and lowering the cost of device 10. Device 10 is also configured to have a low capacitance between terminals 11 and 12. Device 10 is formed to limit the maximum voltage that is formed between terminals 11 and 12 to the clamp voltage of device 10. Furthermore, device 10 is formed to have a sharp knee or sharp breakdown voltage characteristic that assists in accurately controlling the value of the clamp voltage. The low capacitance assists in providing device 10 with a fast response time. Device 10 includes a plurality of steering diode channels such as a first steering diode channel that includes a first steering diode 14, a second steering diode 21, and a zener diode 18. A second steering diode channel includes a third steering diode 20, a fourth steering diode 15, and a zener diode 19. Device 10 also includes two (2) back-to-back diodes illustrated as diodes 85 and 87. First steering diode 14 has an anode commonly connected to terminal 11 and a cathode connected to a cathode of zener diode 18. An anode of diode 18 is connected to an anode of second steering diode 21. A cathode of diode 21 is connected to terminal 12. Similarly, third steering diode 20 has an anode connected to terminal 12 and to an anode of diode 85 of the back-to-back diodes. A cathode of diode 20 is connected to a cathode of a zener diode 19. An anode of diode 19 is connected to an anode of fourth steering diode 15 and to an anode of diode 87 of the back-to-back diodes. A cathode of diode 87 is connected to a cathode of diode 85. A cathode of diode 15 is connected to terminal 11. Diodes 14, 15, 20, and 21 are formed as P-N junction diodes that have a low capacitance.

If a positive electrostatic discharge (ESD) event is received on terminal 11, terminal 11 is forced to a large positive voltage relative to terminal 12. The large positive voltage forward biases diodes 14 and 21 and reverse biases diode 18 in addition to diodes 15, 19, and 20. As the voltage between terminals 11 and 12 reaches the positive threshold voltage of device 10 (the forward voltage of diodes 14 and 21 plus the zener voltage of diode 18) a positive current (Ip) flows from terminal 11 through diode 14 to diode 18, and through diodes 18 and 21 to terminal 12. The sharp knee of diode 18 causes diode 18 to rapidly clamp the maximum voltage formed between terminals 11 and 12 to the zener voltage of diode 18 (plus the forward voltage of diodes 14 and 21). If a negative ESD event is received on terminal 11, terminal 11 is forced to a large negative voltage relative to terminal 12. The large negative voltage forward biases diodes 20 and 15, and reverse biases diode 19 in addition to diodes 14, 18, and 21. As the voltage between terminals 11 and 12 reaches the negative threshold voltage of device 10 (the forward voltage of diodes 20 and 15 plus the zener voltage of diode 19) a negative current (In) flows from terminal 12 through diode 20 to diode 19, and through diodes 19 and 15 to terminal 11. The sharp knee of diode 19 causes diode 19 to rapidly clamp the maximum voltage between terminals 11 and 12 to the zener voltage of diode 19 (plus the forward voltage of diodes 15 and 20).

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of ESD device 10. Diodes 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are identified in a general manner by arrows. As will be seen further hereinafter, device 10 includes a bulk semiconductor substrate 23 on which an isolation layer 24 is formed. A conductor layer 25 is formed on a surface of layer 24 to conduct currents Ip and In as will be seen further hereinafter. Isolation layer 24 assists in containing currents Ip and In to flow within layer 25 and to isolate diodes 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 21 from bulk semiconductor substrate 23. A semiconductor layer 33 is formed on layer 25 to assist in forming diodes 14 15, 20, and 21. A semiconductor region 29 is formed near the interface of the dopants that form layer 33 and the dopants of layer 25 in order to assist in forming diodes 18 and 19.

FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 illustrates various sequential stages of some of the steps in a preferred method of forming device 10. Referring to FIG. 3, in this preferred embodiment, bulk semiconductor substrate 23 has a P-type conductivity and generally has a doping concentration that is approximately 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³ and preferably is between approximately 1×10¹⁹ and 1×10²¹ atoms/cm³. Isolation layer 24 preferably is formed on a surface of substrate 23 as an N-type epitaxial layer. Layer 25 is formed on the surface of layer 24 as a P-type epitaxial layer. A portion 75 of the surface of layer 25 where semiconductor region 29 is to be formed, is doped with a dopant that can form an N-type doped region on the surface of layer 25.

Referring to FIG. 4, after portion 75 is doped, layer 33 is formed on the surface of layer 25 as an N-type epitaxial layer. During the formation of layer 33, the dopants in portion 75 usually are activated to form doped semiconductor region 29 at the interface between layers 25 and 33. Region 29 may extend into both layers 33 and 25 or may be formed in other positions as long as region 29 forms a P-N junction such as with layer 33.

Subsequently, a plurality of blocking structures, such as isolation trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 (FIG. 2), are formed in order to isolate the portion of layer 33 where each of diodes 14, 15, 20, and 21 are to be formed from each other. These blocking structures have a periphery, such as the periphery at the surface of layer 33 and extending vertically into layer 33, that surrounds each respective diode and prevents current from flowing from any of diodes 14, 15, 20, or 21 laterally through layer 33 and force any lateral current flow between these diodes to occur within layer 25. In order to form isolation trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38, a mask 76, such as a silicon dioxide or silicon nitride layer, is formed on layer 33 and patterned to form openings 77 where trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 are to be formed. Openings 77 are used to form openings that extend through layer 33 and into layer 25. The openings for trenches 35 and 37 also extend through region 29 into layer 25 so that trenches 35 and 37 may reduce conduction laterally through region 29 between diodes 18 and 19 reduce conduction with either of diodes 15 or 21. Additionally, trenches 35 and 37 separate region 29 into separate regions that will form separate P-N junctions between region 29 and layer 25 thereby using region 29 to form two zener diodes 18 and 19. In some embodiments, a dielectric liner 30, such as silicon dioxide, may be formed along the sidewalls and bottoms of the openings for trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38. In other embodiments, the dielectric liner is removed (or not formed) along the bottom of the openings for trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38. Liner 30 assists in forming each of trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 as an isolation trench. For clarity of the drawings, liner 30 is illustrated as a line along the sides of the openings.

FIG. 5 illustrates device 10 after subsequent steps in the method. After the openings for trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 are formed, mask 76 usually (FIG. 4) is removed. Thereafter, the openings for trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 are filled with a conductor, such as doped polysilicon, to form the openings into trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38. In some embodiments, it may be necessary to planarize the surface of layer 33 after forming the conductor material within the openings. Methods to form trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 are well known to those skilled in the art. Because trenches 35 and 37 extend through region 29, they also reduce alignment tolerances and make it easier to reliably produce device 10. Each of trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 preferably are formed as a multiply-connected domain, such as a circle or closed polygon, with a periphery that has an opening which encloses a portion of layer 33, thus, each of trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be regarded as a multiply-connected domain. In the case of a polygon, the corners of the closed polygon preferably are rounded. Trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 each surround the portion layer 33 where respective diodes 14, 15, 20, and 21 are to be formed. Each of trenches 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be viewed as a blocking structure that minimizes electrical coupling between the enclosed portions and other portions of device 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, conductor trenches or conductors 60 and a blocking structure, such as an isolation trench 57 (FIG. 2), subsequently may be formed. This blocking structure isolates diodes 14, 15, and 18-21 of device 10 from conductors 60 and from a doped region 63. This prevents lateral current flow from any of these diodes to conductors 60 (or to region 63) through any of layers 24, 25, and 33. As will be seen further hereinafter, trench 57 is used as an isolation trench that also prevents currents Ip and In from flowing laterally through layer 25 past the diodes where the currents are intended to flow through. Conductors 60 facilitate forming an electrical connection from the top surface of layer 33 to substrate 23. In order to form trench 57 and conductors 60, another mask 79 usually is applied and patterned to form openings 80 within mask 79 where trench 57 and conductors 60 are to be formed. Mask 79 usually is similar to mask 76. Openings 80 are used to form openings that extend from the surface of layer 33 though layer 33, layer 25, layer 24 and into substrate 23. A dielectric liner 58 is formed along the sidewalls, but not the bottom, of the opening for trench 57 to prevent trench 57 from electrically interacting with layers 24, 25, and 33. In some embodiments, liner 58 may also be formed in the bottom of the opening. A similar dielectric liner 61 is formed along the sidewalls, but not the bottoms, of the openings for conductors 60 to prevent conductors 60 from electrically interacting with layers 24, 25, and 33. Liner 61 is not formed in the bottom of the openings so that conductors 60 can electrically contact substrate 23. The number of conductors 60 is chosen to provide the desired resistivity of the electrical connection to substrate 23. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that liners 58 and 61 generally are formed by forming a dielectric, such as silicon dioxide, on the sidewalls and bottom, and the portion of the bottom may be removed with a separate step.

Referring again to FIG. 2, mask 79 may subsequently be removed and a conductor, such as doped polysilicon, is formed within the openings of trench 57 and conductors 60 to form the openings into trench 57 and conductors 60. If a doped semiconductor material is used for the conductor that is within trench 57 and conductors 60, the doped semiconductor material preferably is doped to be the same conductivity as substrate 23 in order to form an electrical connection thereto. However, other doping types may also be used. The surface of layer 33 may again have to be planarized after forming the conductor within the openings. Trench 57 is formed as a multiply-connected domain, such as a circle or closed polygon, with a periphery that encloses a portion of layers 33, 25, and 24 where diodes 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 20 are to be formed. In the case of a polygon, the corners preferably are rounded.

Subsequently, diodes 14, 15, 20, and 21 are formed such as by forming doped regions on the surface and extending into layer 33. Diode 14 includes a doped region 42 that is formed on the surface of layer 33 with a conductivity that is opposite to layer 33. Similarly, diode 20 includes a doped region 48 that is formed on the surface of layer 33 with a conductivity that is opposite to layer 33. Diodes 14 and 20 are formed by the P-N junction between layer 33 and respective regions 42 and 48. Regions 42 and 48 are formed to extend into layer 33 and overlie region 29 so that regions 42 and 48, thus diodes 14 and 20, are electrically connected to separate portions of region 29 to form electrical connections to diodes 18 and 19. Regions 42 and 48 usually are positioned so that the periphery of each of regions 42 and 48, such as a periphery formed at the surface of layer 33, is completely surrounded by respective trenches 35 and 37. Preferably, each of trenches 35 and 37 are one continuous trench that is formed around respective regions 42 and 48. Because trenches 35 and 37 extend through layer 33, they reduce the amount of layer 33 that is near regions 42 and 48 thereby assisting in reducing the capacitance of diodes 14 and 20. Trenches 35 and 37 also reduce interaction between diodes 14 and 20.

Diodes 15 and 21 are each formed by the P-N junction at the interface of layer 33 and layer 25 and within the regions surrounded by respective trenches 36 and 38. A doped region 49 is formed in layer 33, and surrounded by trench 38, with a conductivity that is the same as layer 33 in order to form a contact region for electrically contacting the portion of layer 33 where diode 21 is formed. Similarly, a doped region 41 is formed in layer 33, and surrounded by trench 36, with a conductivity that is the same as layer 33 in order to form a contact region for electrically contacting the portion of layer 33 where diode 15 is formed. Regions 41 and 49 are formed on the surface of layer 33 and preferably extend approximately the same distance into layer 33 as regions 42 and 48. However, regions 41 and 49 do not overlie region 29. Region 41 is positioned so that the periphery of region 41, such as the periphery at the surface of layer 33, is completely surrounded by trench 36 and region 49 is positioned so that the periphery of region 49, such as the periphery at the surface of layer 33, is completely surrounded by trench 38. Each of trenches 37 and 38 preferably are formed as one continuous trench.

Another doped region 63 is formed on the surface of layer 33 to overlie and preferably abut conductors 60 in order to form an electrical connection to conductor trenches 60. Region 63 is formed with the same conductivity as substrate 23 so that region 63 forms a conduction path through trenches 60 to substrate 23. Preferably, the top of the openings for conductor trenches 60 has the dielectric liner removed from the portion of conductors 60 that is within region 63 to facilitate forming a low resistance electrical connection therebetween. Regions 42, 48, and 63 may be formed together at the same time. Regions 41 and 49 may be formed together at the same time. As can be seen from FIG. 2, diode 85 is formed by substrate 23 and layer 24 and the interface therebetween, and diode 87 is formed by layers 23 and 24 and the interface therebetween.

Subsequently, a dielectric 51 may be formed on the surface of layer 33. Openings generally are formed through dielectric 51 to expose portions of regions 41, 42, 48, 49, and 63. A conductor 52 usually is applied to make electrical contact to both regions 41 and 42. A conductor 53 generally is applied to make electrical contact to both regions 48, 49, and 63. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that region 63 may be omitted and conductor 52 may directly contact the conductor material that is within conductors 60. Conductors 52 and 53 usually are subsequently connected to respective terminals 11 and 12. Since the ESD current flow of device 10 is not through the bottom surface of substrate 23, a conductor generally is not applied thereto. Consequently, device 10 has two terminals that generally are connected to two terminals of a semiconductor package to form a single ESD device. In other embodiments, terminals 11 and 12 of device 10 may be connected to other devices, such as in a multiple die semiconductor package, to form a different device.

Referring back to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when device 10 receives a positive ESD voltage on terminal 11 relative to terminal 12, diodes 14, 18, and 21 are forward biased and diodes 15, 19, and 20 are reverse biased. As a result, current Ip begins to flow from terminal 11 to the anode of diode 14 at region 42, through the P-N junction of diode 14 at the interface between region 42 and layer 33, and to the cathode of diode 14 in the portion of layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 35. Current Ip continues on through layer 33 and to the cathode of diode 18 at region 29, and through the P-N junction of diode 18 that is formed at the interface of the portion of region 29 that is surrounded by trench 35 and the abutting portion of layer 25. Since this abutting portion of layer 25 forms the cathode of diode 18, current Ip flows into layer 25. Since substrate 23 is biased through conductors 60, substrate 23 forms a reverse biased P-N junction at the interface between layer 25 and layer 24 which prevents current Ip from flowing into both layer 24 and substrate 23. Also, trench 57 constrains current Ip to remain within the portion of layer 25 that is surrounded by trench 57. Consequently, current Ip flows through layer 25 to the cathode of diode 21 that is formed by the portion of layer 25 that abuts with the portion of layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 38. Current Ip flows through the P-N junction of diode 21 at the interface of layer 25 and layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 38 and continues on to the anode of diode 21 that is formed by layer 33. Current Ip continues through layer 33 to region 49 and terminal 12. It can be seen that layer 24 forms an isolation layer that prevents current Ip from flowing to substrate 23 and that layer 25 forms a conductor layer that conducts current between diodes 18 and 21. Thus, layer 25 electrically connects the anode of diode 18 to the anode of diode 21 and layer 33 connects the cathode of diode 14 to the cathode of diode 18.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of an embodiment of device 10. FIG. 6 illustrates device 10 without dielectric 51 and conductors 52 and 53 so that the surface of layer 33 is illustrated. For the embodiment of FIG. 6, device 10 includes two diodes 15 and two diodes 21. The plan view illustrates the multiply-connected domain configuration trenches 35, 36, 37, 38, and 57. For example, trenches 35, 37, and 57 are formed as closed polygons with rounded corners, and trenches 36 and 38 are formed as circles. Conductors 60 illustrates that conductors 60 are not formed into a closed polygon, but are formed at one end of the structure of device 10 in order to form contact to substrate 23. Typically, conductors 60 are formed close to diodes 20 and 21 in order to facilitate forming conductor 53 to electrically contact all of conductors 60 and diodes 20 and 21.

When device 10 receives a negative voltage on terminal 11 relative to terminal 12, diodes 20, 19, and 15 are forward biased and diodes 14, 18, and 21 are reverse biased. As a result, current In begins to flow from terminal 12 to the anode of diode 20 at region 48, through the P-N junction of diode 20 at the interface between region 48 and layer 33, and to the cathode of diode 20 in the portion of layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 37. Current In continues on through layer 33 and to the cathode of diode 19 at region 29, and through the P-N junction of diode 19 that is formed at the interface of the portion of region 29 that is surrounded by trench 37 and the abutting portion of layer 25. Since this abutting portion of layer 25 forms the cathode of diode 19, current In flows into layer 25. Substrate 23 is again biased through conductors 60 and forms a reverse biased P-N junction at the interface between layer 25 and layer 24 which prevents current In from flowing into both layer 24 and substrate 23. Also, trench 57 constrains current In to remain within the portion of layer 25 that is surrounded by trench 57. Consequently, current In flows through layer 25 to the cathode of diode 15 that is formed by the portion of layer 25 that abuts with the portion of layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 36. Current In flows through the P-N junction of diode 15 at the interface of layer 25 and the portion of layer 33 that is surrounded by trench 36 and continues on to the anode of diode 15 that is formed by layer 33. Current In continues through layer 33 to region 41 and terminal 11. Layer 24 forms the isolation layer that prevents current In from flowing to substrate 23 and layer 25 forms a conductor layer that conducts current In between diodes 20 and 15. Thus, layer 25 electrically connects the anode of diode 15 to the anode of diode 19 and layer 33 connects the cathode of diode 20 to the cathode of diode 19. Note that for both the positive and negative ESD discharge events, the ESD current flow is into and out of the top surface of layers 25 and 33. The ESD current does not flow through or even into substrate 23. Additionally, it can be seen that trench 57 confines current Ip and In to flow through the portion of layer 25 that is surrounded by trench 57. Additionally, trench 57 prevents forming a short from region 63 through layer 33 to layer 24. Such a short would short terminal 12 to the anode of diodes 21 and 19.

The sheet rho, or Gummel number, of layer 24 is controlled by the carrier concentration within layer 24 and the thickness of layer 24. The sheet rho of layer 24 relative to the sheet rho of layer 25 is controlled to assist in preventing the enablement of a parasitic bipolar transistor that may be formed by layers 25, 24, and substrate 23. Preferably, the carrier concentration of layer 24 is between about 1E15 atoms/cm³ and 1E17 atoms/cm³ with a thickness of about two to twenty (2-20) microns. In one example embodiment, layer 25 is formed with a thickness of about two to ten (2-10) microns and a doping concentration of about 1E19 atoms/cm³ in order to facilitate efficient carrier conduction between diodes 18 and 21. Because of these doping relationships, diodes 85 and 87 generally do not conduct current in this embodiment of device 10.

FIG. 7 is a graph that illustrates the V-I characteristics of device 10. The abscissa indicates the voltage applied to terminal 11 relative to terminal 12, and the ordinate indicates the current through device 10. A plot 67 illustrates the V-I characteristic. Because layer 24 is formed to prevent enabling the parasitic bipolar transistor between substrate 23 and layers 24 and 25, the V-I characteristic for device 10 has a sharp knee and is substantially symmetrical for both positive and negative ESD discharge events as illustrate by plot 68.

Additionally, the structure of device 10 is formed to have a low capacitance. This low capacitance when device 10 is not conducting allows fast data transmission over the data transmission lines to which device 10 is attached without the capacitance of device 10 interfering therewith. In normal operation, device 10 is biased to a normal operating voltage, such as a voltage that is between about one volt (1V) and the zener voltage of diodes 18 or 19, such as by applying about one volt (1V) to terminal 11 and a ground reference voltage to terminal 12. Because of the hereinafter described characteristics of device 10, the capacitance of device 10 remains low as the voltage between terminals 11 and 12 varies over this normal operating voltage. However, the capacitance of an ESD device is customarily specified with zero volts applied across the device. This zero voltage condition is normally referred to as a zero bias condition. As will be seen further hereinafter, at this zero bias condition the hereinafter described low capacitance features of device 10 forms very low capacitance values for diodes 14, 15, 20, and 21. Since there are two parallel paths between terminals 11 and 12, the capacitance value of each path is the additive product of the capacitances in each path. The first path includes the capacitances of diodes 14, 18 and 21 in series. Since the capacitance of capacitors in series is smaller than that of the smallest capacitor, then the capacitance of the first path is smaller than the capacitance of either of diodes 14, 18, or 21. Device 10 is formed so that the zero bias capacitance of diodes 14 and 21 are very small as will be seen further hereinafter. Similarly, the capacitance of the second path, that includes diodes 20, 19 and 15, is also very small. The overall additive value of the two paths forms a small zero bias capacitance for device 10.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the carrier concentration profile of a portion of one exemplary embodiment of device 10. The abscissa indicates depth from the surface of layer 33 into device 10 and the ordinate indicates increasing value of the carrier concentration. A plot 68 illustrates the carrier concentration of device 10 that results from a positive bias applied from terminal 11 to terminal 12 (such as by a positive ESD event). This description has references to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 7. In order to assist in forming device 10 to have a sharp knee, the preferred embodiment of layer 25 is formed with a P-type conductivity and generally has a doping concentration that is approximately 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³ and preferably is between approximately 1×10¹⁹ and 1×10²¹ atoms/cm³. Semiconductor region 29 is formed as an N-type region having a peak doping concentration of approximately 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³ and preferably is between approximately 1×10¹⁹ and 1×10²¹ atoms/cm³ for a clamp voltage of approximately two to ten volts (2-10 V). In order to assist in forming the low zero bias capacitance for device 10, the preferred embodiment of layer 24 (FIG. 2) is formed with a n-type conductivity and generally has a doping concentration that is approximately 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³ and preferably is between approximately 1×10¹⁵ and 1×10¹⁷ atoms/cm³. Additionally, the thickness of region 29 preferably is between about one and three (1-3) microns. Because of the high doping concentration of region 29 and layer 25, when device 10 receives a positive voltage from terminal 11 to terminal 12, the depletion region is confined to a small area within region 29 and layer 25 near to the interface with layer 25. This high concentration of carriers and dopants provides zener diodes 18 and 19 with a very sharp transition or knee and allows very accurate control over the breakdown voltage or zener voltage of diodes 18 and 19. The breakdown voltage or zener voltage of diodes 18 and 19 can be adjusted by changing the carrier concentration or carrier profile of region 29 and/or of layer 25. This allows precisely controlling the breakdown voltage for specific applications such as for five or twelve or twenty-four volt (5V, 12V, 24V) breakdown voltage application.

Layer 33 preferably is formed to have a lower peak doping concentration that is at least one order of magnitude less than the doping concentration of region 29 and generally is between about 1E13 and 1E17 atoms/cm³.

The peak doping concentration of regions 42 and 48 generally is greater than the peak doping concentration of layer 33 and preferably is approximately equal to the peak doping concentration of layer 25. Regions 42 and 48 generally are formed to extend a distance no greater than about two (2) microns and preferably about one tenth to two (0.1-2) microns from the surface into layer 33. The large differential doping concentration between region 42 and layer 33 and also between region 48 and layer 33 and the shallow depth of regions 42 and 48 assists in providing respective diodes 14 and 20 with a very small zero bias capacitance. This very small zero bias capacitance of diodes 14 and 20 assists in forming a small zero bias capacitance for device 10 as indicated hereinbefore. The capacitance of each of diodes 14, 18, 20 and 21 at zero bias generally is less than about 0.5 pico-farads and the equivalent series capacitance of diodes 14, 18, 20, and 21 forms a capacitance for device 10 that is about 0.2 pico-farads and preferably is no greater than about 0.01 pico-farads.

Because trenches 36 and 38 extend through layer 33, they reduce the area of the P-N junctions formed between the portions of layers 25 and 33 that underlie respective regions 41 and 49 thereby assisting in reducing the capacitance of respective diodes 15 and 21. In the preferred embodiment, regions 41 and 49 have a peak doping concentration that is greater than the peak doping concentration of layer 33 and preferably is approximately equal to the peak doping concentration of layer 29.

Regions 42 and 48 generally are separated from region 29 by a distance that assists in minimizing the capacitance of diodes 15 and 21. The spacing generally is approximately two to twenty (2-20) microns. The portion of layer 33 that is between regions 42 and 29 and between regions 48 and 29 forms a drift region of respective diodes 14 and 20. The thickness of the drift region of layer 33 generally is at least around two microns in order to reduce the formation of parasitic transistors and to ensure that device 10 does not operate in a punch-through operating region. As can be seen, device 10 usually is devoid of a doped region having a conductivity that is the same as layer 25 and that is positioned between diode 14 and region 29, thus between regions 42 and 29.

The capacitance of device 10 at zero bias generally is less than about 0.5 picofarads and the equivalent series capacitance for device 10 is about 0.3 picofarads and preferably is no greater than about 0.1 picofarads.

When device 10 receives a positive voltage on terminal 11 relative to terminal 12, diodes 20 and 15 are reverse biased and diodes 14 and 21 are forward biased. Because of the depletion regions formed by the reverse biasing, the carrier density in layer 33 is further reduced from the zero bias condition which assists in further reducing the equivalent series capacitance of device 10. This allows the capacitance to be low even with increasing bias voltage. In fact, unlike single diodes, device 10 has a substantially constant capacitance. Due to the symmetry of device 10, the capacitance is constant for both positive and negative voltage applied between terminals 11 and 12. This flat capacitance profile persists for voltages lower than the zener voltage of device 10. As a contrast, a single diode has low capacitance under reverse bias, relative high capacitance at zero volts, and quadraticaly increasing capacitance with forward bias.

When an electrode-static discharge occurs, there is generally a large voltage and current spike that occurs over a brief period of time. Generally, the peak current and peak voltage occurs over a period of a few nanoseconds, typically less than two nanoseconds (2 nsec.) and could last for only about one nanosecond (1 nsec.). The current generally decreases to a plateau for another time interval usually around twenty (20) nanoseconds and slowly decreases over another twenty to forty (20-40) nanoseconds. The peak value of the current could be between one to thirty amperes (1 to 30 amps) and the peak voltage could be between two thousand and thirty thousand volts (2000-30000 V). The size and response time of the elements of device 10 preferably are configured to respond to the voltage during the time interval of the peak voltage and conduct the peak current. During an ESD event between terminals 11 and 12, either of diodes 14 and 21 is connected in series and diodes 15 and 20 are connected in series, the effective capacitance is the total series capacitance. Because capacitors in series result in a capacitance that is less than the smallest capacitance, the low capacitance ensures that the capacitance of device 10 is low enough for device 10 to respond to the ESD event and conduct the ESD current during the peak ESD voltage and current.

FIG. 9 is a graph that illustrates the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of an alternate embodiment of device 10. The abscissa indicates the voltage applied to terminal 12 relative to terminal 11, and the ordinate indicates the current through the alternate embodiment of device 10. A plot 88 illustrates the I-V characteristic. In this alternate embodiment of device 10 the sheet rho of layer 24 is increased in order to facilitate enabling the parasitic bipolar transistor that can be formed between substrate 23 and layers 25 and 24. Allowing the parasitic bipolar transistor to be enabled forms a current flow path from layer 25 to substrate 23 and allows current to flow from terminal 12 to the anode of diodes 15 and 21. Enabling the parasitic bipolar transistor changes the V-I characteristics and forms this alternate embodiment device 10 to have a snap-back and to function similarly to a thyristor. Note that with this doping concentration for layer 24, as the voltage difference between terminals 11 and 12 increases, the parasitic bipolar transistor becomes enabled and shorts layer 25 to substrate 23 thereby allowing current to flow from layer 25 to substrate 23 and through conductors 60 to terminal 12 resulting in the snap-back characteristic.

In certain applications, it may be beneficial to be capable of withstanding a large surge current. Because of the snap-back characteristic, device 85 will provide both high current surge through the bipolar transistor and ESD protection. Note that this parasitic bipolar transistor is formed on the side of terminal 12 which is shorted to substrate 23 by conductive trenches 60. Thus, this alternate embodiment of device 10 is asymmetrical because the snap-back is only on the positive side of the current-voltage characteristics with terminal 12 designated as the anode. The cathode side is still blocking in this configuration.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device or ESD device 90 that is another alternate embodiment of device 10 that was described in FIG. 1-FIG. 9. Device 90 is similar to device 10 except that the sheet rho of either layer 29 or layer 33 is greater in order to increase the gain in the base region formed by layers 29 and 33 and facilitate enabling another parasitic bipolar transistor that can be formed between region 42, layer 33 (along with region 29), and layer 25. Enabling this parasitic bipolar transistor changes the V-I characteristics and forms device 90 to have a snap-back between zener diode 18 and diode 14 causing device 10 to function similarly to a thyristor.

FIG. 11 is a graph that illustrates the current-voltage I-V characteristics of device 90. The abscissa indicates the voltage applied to terminal 12 relative to terminal 11, and the ordinate indicates the current through device 85. A plot 94 illustrates the I-V characteristic. Note that with this doping concentration for layer 33, as the voltage difference between terminals 11 and 12 increases, the parasitic bipolar transistor becomes enabled and shorts layer 33 to layer 24, thus, to substrate 23 thereby allowing current to flow from terminal 12 through conductors 60 to substrate 23 then through layers 25 and 24 to layer 33 and terminal 11. As can be seen from plot 94, device 90 is a symmetrical device and has a snap-back on both sides of the I-V characteristic.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that both layers 24 and 33, and layers 24 and 29 may be doped to enable both of the parasitic bipolar transistors. This forms a symmetrical bi-directional device with snap-back characteristics for both current directions similar to a bi-directional thyristor.

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portion of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device or ESD device 100 that is alternate embodiment of either of devices 10 or 90 that were described in the explanation of FIGS. 9-11. Device 100 is similar to devices 10 and 90 except that device 100 has a single diode 103 instead of back-to-back diodes 85, 87 and 91 of respective devices 10 and 90. Configuring device 100 to have diode 103 coupled in parallel with diode 15 and in parallel with diode 21 improves the symmetry of the V-I characteristic curve of device 100.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of ESD device 100. Device 100 is similar to devices 10 and 90 except that device 100 has a substrate 105 that has a doping type that is the same as layer 24. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, substrate 105 and layer 24 are both N-type. Because both substrate 105 and layer 24 are the same doping type, there is no P-N junction between substrate 105 and layer 24, thus diode 103 is a single diode formed by the P-N junction between layer 24 and layer 25. The doping concentration of substrate 105 is substantially the same as the doping concentration of substrate 23. Forming device 100 with single diode 103 improves the symmetry of device 100.

In view of all of the above, it is evident that a novel device and method is disclosed. Included, among other features, is forming an ESD device that has an isolation layer formed between the diodes of the ESD device and the substrate on which the device is formed. The isolation layer isolates the diodes from the substrate and facilitates forming the ESD device as a two terminal device. Forming the conductor layer underlying the diodes facilitates forming a lateral current path to interconnect the anodes of the diodes together. Additionally, forming a blocking structure to surround each of the diodes forces the lateral current flow to occur within the conductor layer and prevents lateral current flow that could short the diodes together. Forming the vertical conductor to facilitate forming electrical connection to the substrate assists in configuring the device to operate from two terminals. Forming another blocking structure to isolate the diodes from the vertical conductor assists in preventing shorts from the diodes to the terminals of the ESD device. Additionally, the ESD device usually has a highly doped P-type substrate, a lightly doped N-type layer in which the diodes are formed, and a highly doped N-type layer that is positioned adjacent to a portion of the lightly doped N-type layer in order to form a zener diode. Also included is a highly doped P-type layer overlying the highly doped N-type layer in order to form P-N diodes. The doping concentrations and thicknesses result in an ESD device that can respond to an ESD event within less than one nanosecond (1 nsec.).

While the subject matter of the inventions are described with specific preferred embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the semiconductor arts. For example, all the doping types may be reversed. Isolation layer 24 can be any type of layer that provides isolation between layer 25 and substrate 33 including a semiconductor dielectric such as silicon dioxide. Although semiconductor region 29 is described as being formed by doping a portion of an epitaxial layer, region 29 may be formed by a variety of well-known techniques. Additionally, the doping described for isolation layer 24 may be replaced by other techniques that will kill or reduce the carrier lifetime within layer 24 sufficiently to inhibit enabling the bipolar transistor. Although the devices were described herein as being formed on a silicon substrate, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other semiconductor materials may be used including gallium arsenide, silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and other semiconductor materials. Additionally, the word “connected” is used throughout for clarity of the description, however, it is intended to have the same meaning as the word “coupled”. Accordingly, “connected” should be interpreted as including either a direct connection or an indirect connection. 

1. An ESD device comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and having a first doping concentration, the semiconductor substrate having first and second surfaces; a first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor layer having a first surface that is opposite to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a second doping concentration; a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the first surface of the first semiconductor layer having a first surface that is opposite to the first surface of the first semiconductor layer and having a third doping concentration; a third semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type on the first surface of the second semiconductor layer, the third semiconductor layer having a first surface that is opposite to the first surface of the second semiconductor layer and having a fourth doping concentration; a first semiconductor region of the second conductivity type positioned between a first portion of the third semiconductor layer and the first surface of the second semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor region forming a zener diode with dopants of the second semiconductor layer; a first isolation trench formed as a first multiply-connected domain having a periphery and extending from the first surface of the third semiconductor layer into the semiconductor substrate wherein the periphery surrounds at least a first portion of the third semiconductor layer; and a plurality of diodes formed in the first portion of the third semiconductor layer.
 2. The ESD device of claim 1 further including a plurality of conductors extending from within the semiconductor substrate at least into the third semiconductor layer wherein the plurality of conductors are external to the periphery of the first isolation trench.
 3. The ESD device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of diodes includes a first P-N diode formed as a first doped region on the first surface of the third semiconductor layer and overlying a first portion of the first semiconductor region; and a second P-N diode formed at an interface between the third semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
 4. The ESD device of claim 3 further including a second isolation trench formed as a second multiply-connected domain having a periphery and extending from the first surface of the third semiconductor layer into the second semiconductor layer wherein the periphery of the second isolation trench surrounds the first doped region and is within the periphery of the first isolation trench.
 5. The ESD device of claim 4 further including a third isolation trench formed as a third multiply-connected domain having a periphery and extending from the first surface of the third semiconductor layer into the second semiconductor layer wherein the periphery of the third isolation trench surrounds the second P-N diode and is within the periphery of the first isolation trench but is external to the periphery of the second isolation trench.
 6. The ESD device of claim 5 further including a third P-N diode formed as third doped region on the first surface of the third semiconductor layer and overlying a second portion of the first semiconductor region, the third P-N diode spaced laterally apart from both the first P-N diode and the first doped region; and a fourth isolation trench formed as a second multiply-connected domain having a periphery and extending from the first surface of the third semiconductor layer through the first semiconductor region and into the second semiconductor layer wherein the periphery of the fourth isolation trench surrounds the third P-N diode and is external to the second and third isolation trenches but is surrounded by the periphery of the first isolation trench.
 7. The ESD device of claim 6 further including a fourth P-N diode formed at the interface between the third semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; and a fifth isolation trench formed as a fifth multiply-connected domain having a periphery and extending from the first surface of the third semiconductor layer into the second semiconductor layer wherein the periphery of the fifth isolation trench surrounds the fourth P-N diode and is external to the second and third isolation trenches but is surrounded by the periphery of the first isolation trench.
 8. The ESD device of claim 3 further including a plurality of conductors extending from within the semiconductor substrate at least into the third semiconductor layer wherein the plurality of conductors are electrically connected to the first doped region and are external to the periphery of the first isolation trench.
 9. The ESD device of claim 1 wherein the ESD device is devoid of a doped region of the first conductivity type positioned between the plurality of P-N diodes and the first semiconductor region.
 10. The ESD device of claim 1 wherein the first semiconductor layer is formed to have a sheet rho that is less than a sheet rho of the second semiconductor layer.
 11. The ESD device of claim 1 wherein the first semiconductor layer is formed to have a sheet rho that is greater than a sheet rho of the second semiconductor layer.
 12. The ESD device of claim 11 wherein the third semiconductor layer is formed to have a sheet rho that is greater than a sheet rho of the second semiconductor layer. 